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Azure Ai Projects Py

Build AI applications using the Azure AI Projects.

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4.3 (401 reviews)
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3,926 downloads
Version
1.0.0

Overview

Build AI applications using the Azure AI Projects.

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Azure AI Projects Python SDK (Foundry SDK)

Build AI applications on Azure AI Foundry using the azure-ai-projects SDK.

Installation

bash
pip install azure-ai-projects azure-identity

Environment Variables

bash
AZURE_AI_PROJECT_ENDPOINT="https://<resource>.services.ai.azure.com/api/projects/<project>"
AZURE_AI_MODEL_DEPLOYMENT_NAME="gpt-4o-mini"

Authentication

python
import os
from azure.identity import DefaultAzureCredential
from azure.ai.projects import AIProjectClient

credential = DefaultAzureCredential()
client = AIProjectClient(
    endpoint=os.environ["AZURE_AI_PROJECT_ENDPOINT"],
    credential=credential,
)

Client Operations Overview

OperationAccessPurpose
client.agents.agents.Agent CRUD, versions, threads, runs
client.connections.connections.List/get project connections
client.deployments.deployments.List model deployments
client.datasets.datasets.Dataset management
client.indexes.indexes.Index management
client.evaluations.evaluations.Run evaluations
client.red_teams.red_teams.*Red team operations

Two Client Approaches

1. AIProjectClient (Native Foundry)

python
from azure.ai.projects import AIProjectClient

client = AIProjectClient(
    endpoint=os.environ["AZURE_AI_PROJECT_ENDPOINT"],
    credential=DefaultAzureCredential(),
)

# Use Foundry-native operations
agent = client.agents.create_agent(
    model=os.environ["AZURE_AI_MODEL_DEPLOYMENT_NAME"],
    name="my-agent",
    instructions="You are helpful.",
)

2. OpenAI-Compatible Client

python
# Get OpenAI-compatible client from project
openai_client = client.get_openai_client()

# Use standard OpenAI API
response = openai_client.chat.completions.create(
    model=os.environ["AZURE_AI_MODEL_DEPLOYMENT_NAME"],
    messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Hello!"}],
)

Agent Operations

Create Agent (Basic)

python
agent = client.agents.create_agent(
    model=os.environ["AZURE_AI_MODEL_DEPLOYMENT_NAME"],
    name="my-agent",
    instructions="You are a helpful assistant.",
)

Create Agent with Tools

python
from azure.ai.agents import CodeInterpreterTool, FileSearchTool

agent = client.agents.create_agent(
    model=os.environ["AZURE_AI_MODEL_DEPLOYMENT_NAME"],
    name="tool-agent",
    instructions="You can execute code and search files.",
    tools=[CodeInterpreterTool(), FileSearchTool()],
)

Versioned Agents with PromptAgentDefinition

python
from azure.ai.projects.models import PromptAgentDefinition

# Create a versioned agent
agent_version = client.agents.create_version(
    agent_name="customer-support-agent",
    definition=PromptAgentDefinition(
        model=os.environ["AZURE_AI_MODEL_DEPLOYMENT_NAME"],
        instructions="You are a customer support specialist.",
        tools=[],  # Add tools as needed
    ),
    version_label="v1.0",
)

See references/agents.md for detailed agent patterns.

Tools Overview

ToolClassUse Case
Code InterpreterCodeInterpreterToolExecute Python, generate files
File SearchFileSearchToolRAG over uploaded documents
Bing GroundingBingGroundingToolWeb search (requires connection)
Azure AI SearchAzureAISearchToolSearch your indexes
Function CallingFunctionToolCall your Python functions
OpenAPIOpenApiToolCall REST APIs
MCPMcpToolModel Context Protocol servers
Memory SearchMemorySearchToolSearch agent memory stores
SharePointSharepointGroundingToolSearch SharePoint content
See references/tools.md for all tool patterns.

Thread and Message Flow

python
# 1. Create thread
thread = client.agents.threads.create()

# 2. Add message
client.agents.messages.create(
    thread_id=thread.id,
    role="user",
    content="What's the weather like?",
)

# 3. Create and process run
run = client.agents.runs.create_and_process(
    thread_id=thread.id,
    agent_id=agent.id,
)

# 4. Get response
if run.status == "completed":
    messages = client.agents.messages.list(thread_id=thread.id)
    for msg in messages:
        if msg.role == "assistant":
            print(msg.content[0].text.value)

Connections

python
# List all connections
connections = client.connections.list()
for conn in connections:
    print(f"{conn.name}: {conn.connection_type}")

# Get specific connection
connection = client.connections.get(connection_name="my-search-connection")

See references/connections.md for connection patterns.

Deployments

python
# List available model deployments
deployments = client.deployments.list()
for deployment in deployments:
    print(f"{deployment.name}: {deployment.model}")

See references/deployments.md for deployment patterns.

Datasets and Indexes

python
# List datasets
datasets = client.datasets.list()

# List indexes
indexes = client.indexes.list()

See references/datasets-indexes.md for data operations.

Evaluation

python
# Using OpenAI client for evals
openai_client = client.get_openai_client()

# Create evaluation with built-in evaluators
eval_run = openai_client.evals.runs.create(
    eval_id="my-eval",
    name="quality-check",
    data_source={
        "type": "custom",
        "item_references": [{"item_id": "test-1"}],
    },
    testing_criteria=[
        {"type": "fluency"},
        {"type": "task_adherence"},
    ],
)

See references/evaluation.md for evaluation patterns.

Async Client

python
from azure.ai.projects.aio import AIProjectClient

async with AIProjectClient(
    endpoint=os.environ["AZURE_AI_PROJECT_ENDPOINT"],
    credential=DefaultAzureCredential(),
) as client:
    agent = await client.agents.create_agent(...)
    # ... async operations

See references/async-patterns.md for async patterns.

Memory Stores

python
# Create memory store for agent
memory_store = client.agents.create_memory_store(
    name="conversation-memory",
)

# Attach to agent for persistent memory
agent = client.agents.create_agent(
    model=os.environ["AZURE_AI_MODEL_DEPLOYMENT_NAME"],
    name="memory-agent",
    tools=[MemorySearchTool()],
    tool_resources={"memory": {"store_ids": [memory_store.id]}},
)

Best Practices

  • Use context managers for async client: async with AIProjectClient(...) as client:
  • Clean up agents when done: client.agents.delete_agent(agent.id)
  • Use create_and_process for simple runs, streaming for real-time UX
  • Use versioned agents for production deployments
  • Prefer connections for external service integration (AI Search, Bing, etc.)

SDK Comparison

Featureazure-ai-projectsazure-ai-agents
LevelHigh-level (Foundry)Low-level (Agents)
ClientAIProjectClientAgentsClient
Versioningcreate_version()Not available
ConnectionsYesNo
DeploymentsYesNo
Datasets/IndexesYesNo
EvaluationVia OpenAI clientNo
When to useFull Foundry integrationStandalone agent apps

Reference Files

Installation

Terminal bash

openclaw install azure-ai-projects-py
    
Copied!

💻Code Examples

)

.txt
## Client Operations Overview

| Operation | Access | Purpose |
|-----------|--------|---------|
| `client.agents` | `.agents.*` | Agent CRUD, versions, threads, runs |
| `client.connections` | `.connections.*` | List/get project connections |
| `client.deployments` | `.deployments.*` | List model deployments |
| `client.datasets` | `.datasets.*` | Dataset management |
| `client.indexes` | `.indexes.*` | Index management |
| `client.evaluations` | `.evaluations.*` | Run evaluations |
| `client.red_teams` | `.red_teams.*` | Red team operations |

## Two Client Approaches

### 1. AIProjectClient (Native Foundry)

)

.txt
## Agent Operations

### Create Agent (Basic)

)

.txt
See [references/agents.md](references/agents.md) for detailed agent patterns.

## Tools Overview

| Tool | Class | Use Case |
|------|-------|----------|
| Code Interpreter | `CodeInterpreterTool` | Execute Python, generate files |
| File Search | `FileSearchTool` | RAG over uploaded documents |
| Bing Grounding | `BingGroundingTool` | Web search (requires connection) |
| Azure AI Search | `AzureAISearchTool` | Search your indexes |
| Function Calling | `FunctionTool` | Call your Python functions |
| OpenAPI | `OpenApiTool` | Call REST APIs |
| MCP | `McpTool` | Model Context Protocol servers |
| Memory Search | `MemorySearchTool` | Search agent memory stores |
| SharePoint | `SharepointGroundingTool` | Search SharePoint content |

See [references/tools.md](references/tools.md) for all tool patterns.

## Thread and Message Flow

connection = client.connections.get(connection_name="my-search-connection")

connection--clientconnectionsgetconnectionnamemy-search-connection.txt
See [references/connections.md](references/connections.md) for connection patterns.

## Deployments

print(f"{deployment.name}: {deployment.model}")

-printfdeploymentname-deploymentmodel.txt
See [references/deployments.md](references/deployments.md) for deployment patterns.

## Datasets and Indexes

indexes = client.indexes.list()

indexes--clientindexeslist.txt
See [references/datasets-indexes.md](references/datasets-indexes.md) for data operations.

## Evaluation

)

.txt
See [references/evaluation.md](references/evaluation.md) for evaluation patterns.

## Async Client

# ... async operations

---async-operations.txt
See [references/async-patterns.md](references/async-patterns.md) for async patterns.

## Memory Stores
example.py
import os
from azure.identity import DefaultAzureCredential
from azure.ai.projects import AIProjectClient

credential = DefaultAzureCredential()
client = AIProjectClient(
    endpoint=os.environ["AZURE_AI_PROJECT_ENDPOINT"],
    credential=credential,
)
example.py
from azure.ai.projects import AIProjectClient

client = AIProjectClient(
    endpoint=os.environ["AZURE_AI_PROJECT_ENDPOINT"],
    credential=DefaultAzureCredential(),
)

# Use Foundry-native operations
agent = client.agents.create_agent(
    model=os.environ["AZURE_AI_MODEL_DEPLOYMENT_NAME"],
    name="my-agent",
    instructions="You are helpful.",
)

Tags

#devops_and-cloud

Quick Info

Category Development
Model Claude 3.5
Complexity One-Click
Author thegovind
Last Updated 3/10/2026
🚀
Optimized for
Claude 3.5
🧠

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